Southwestern Deserts

March, 2011
Regional Report

Web Finds

Earth-Kind Landscaping
Texas A&M Extension Horticulture has collected its research- sustainable gardening information at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/.
They describe their goal: %%%The objective of Earth-Kind Landscaping is to combine the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles to create a horticultural system based on real world effectiveness and environmental responsibility.%%% Topics covered include water conservation, reducing chemicals, pesticides and greenwaste and landscaping to improve energy efficiency. The site also includes links to Texas Master Gardener and Junior Master Gardener sites.

Clever Gardening Technique

Do Not Neglect Mowing Chores
Regular mowing (about every 5 to 7 days) keeps lawns healthy and attractive. Don%%%t let grass grow too tall. It is more difficult to cut and removing a large chunk of its photosynthesizing capability at once makes quick recovery more stressful (just as pruning away too much of a shrub or tree is not advised).